Wellsprings offers time for renewal

Sister Stephanie Hayes, SGS, traveled to the Wellsprings Center in Glens Falls all the way from Australia. A Hospice worker for the past ten years, she'd taken the advice of fellow sisters to try a sabbatical there.

"It's a time to refresh myself, to have a break," she told The Evangelist, proudly displaying recent photos of herself amid colorful autumn leaves.

Sister Stephanie's story is typical of retreatants at the Wellsprings Renewal Center in Glens Falls. Clergy, religious and a few laity come from all over the world for the center's four-month-long sabbatical program, held twice a year. Most are tired, in need of what the directors called "refueling" to continue their ministry.

Time aside

Housed in a building leased from St. Mary's parish down the street, the center is still an independent, not-for-profit entity advertised mainly by word-of-mouth and in national publications. Even neighbors know little about it.

From the outside, the brick building is unassuming. A simple sign saying "Wellsprings" points the way to a dimly lit main floor of offices, prayer rooms and a chapel. Upstairs are empty bedrooms for a maximum of 34 retreatants. The program is usually filled to capacity.

Take two flights of worn stairs down, however, and the sound of conversation becomes progressively louder. The retreatants -- 23 women and nine men, this time -- are on a coffee break from a workshop on the Enneagram, a personality inventory. The dining room is packed with casually dressed women religious and clergy, laughing and chatting.

World-wide

Next door to the dining room, cook Stacy Smith whips up a batch of muffins for lunch. Across the hall is a sitting room of overstuffed furniture, stereo equipment, tapes and compact discs, next door to an art room filled with half-finished clay sculptures. Retreatants can also visit the center's library or watch its collection of movies on a large-screen TV.

While some sabbatical programs emphasize only the arts and "bodywork" like tai chi, Wellsprings director Sister Margaret Picha, SSND, tries to include activities to satisfy the emotional, psychological, spiritual and intellectual aspects of retreatants.

The directors emphasize the issue of hospitality: that Wellsprings is open to all and treats retreatants with respect. However, they add that the program is simply for renewal, not therapy or addiction-recovery, and that retreatants aren't sent there against their will.

Rewards

"The invitation we make is that this isn't simply a break," Sister Margaret said. Instead, she tells those in the program: "Live here like you'd like to live the rest of your life."

Workshop topics, often presented by guest speakers, may include ministry, communication, the Myers-Briggs personality inventory, justice issues, journaling, the Beatitudes, religious life, dreams, wellness and a host of others. In the Enneagram workshop The Evangelist visited, retreatants quietly took notes as a presenter explained various personality types.

Retreatants are expected to attend morning workshops but have afternoons and evenings free for relaxation or "electives" like yoga or art. Thursdays are "desert days," dedicated to prayer, reading and spiritual companioning. Small, inviting rooms decorated with seashells and pillows piled on the floor create a prayerful atmosphere.

Renewal time

"It's a privilege to work with people on life's spiritual journey," explained Brother Michael. "I experience great joy in doing this as I see more joy and peace and passion for life develop in them. People can come here very tired, and at the end of four months, they're ready to conquer the world. It's very exciting!"

Today, Wellsprings is at a turning point. Most laity can't afford the $6,000 or four months of time needed for its sabbatical program; and aside from eight-day directed retreats and some workshops, that program has been its primary focus.

But the directors are hoping to attract more laypersons to the center. To do so, they've developed shorter sabbatical programs, one-day workshops and other opportunities to begin next year. During February 1999, retreatants will even be able to "come away" to the center for any length of time they like, from a day to a month.

Changes ahead

In addition, the directors plan to do more local advertising. Brother Michael quoted a Saratoga Springs priest who called Wellsprings "the best-kept secret in the Diocese."

For anyone who comes to the center, the emphasis is not just on self-centered, personal growth. "This is spiritual development that is meant for the service of the Church and the world," said Sister Margaret.

Brother Michael hopes to see success in Wellspring's new effort to reach out. "We extend an invitation to people to inquire and discover what is here," he said.

(To contact the Wellsprings Renewal Center, call 792-3183.)

(10-29-98) [[In-content Ad]]